458 PROEESSOR HEER ON THE EOSSIL ELORA OE NORTH GREENLAND. 
and Germany up to the coasts of the Baltic, and we now know that it occurred even in 
Greenland, hanging probably in festoons from the trees. The Sassafras has hitherto 
only been found at a few localities, which are however are so far apart (Menat in 
France, and Senegaglia in Italy) that it is very probable that the plant ranged over a 
large part of Europe. This type of plants must have had a very large distribution as to 
time and space, for we find it in the Cretaceous formation of the United States ( Sassafras 
cretaceum , Newb.) as well as in the Eocene of Europe (S. qprimigenia , Sap.). At pre- 
sent it is only found in America. 
As interesting new species we have to notice a Viburnum (V. WJiymperi) resembling 
the V. Lantana of Europe and the V. dentatum of America ; an Aralia with leathery 
leaves, a Cornus, an Ilex with very large leaves, two JRhus, a Sorbus, a Nyssa, and two 
Pterospermites. 
The collection gives us also much information about species already known. It con- 
tains many fine leaves of UGlintocMa which extend our knowledge of this remarkable 
genus. It is true that even now its systematic position cannot be determined with cer- 
tainty, but it probably belongs to the family of Menispermacese. The appearance of a 
fruit from Atanekerdluk confirms this opinion, which can also be based on the leaves. 
Of the Sequoia Langsdorfii I found the male and female flowers, and the ripe and 
opened cones are not rare. They and the long shoots which are occasionally found, 
show us that the climate and soil must have been very favourable for the growth of this 
tree. Of the Salisburea we knew formerly merely the form with entire leaves. This 
collection contains a portion of a leaf which shows us that the fossil species had at times 
bilobate leaves like the living ones. It is therefore probable that the Miocene tree 
belongs to the same species as the living S. Adiantifolia of Japan. 
The oaks appear very frequently at Atanekerdluk. To the eight species which we 
knew formerly, a new one ( Quercus Laharpii , Gaud.) has been added, while among the 
former ones we obtained more perfect leaves of Q. Lyellii and Q. flatania . The same is 
the case with Juglans, Planera , and two remarkable ferns (. Hemitelites Torelli and Wood- 
wardites) v differing very widely from all species both of the temperate and frigid zones. 
The discovery of the fruit and flowers of the chestnut (cf. Plate XLY. figs. 1, 2) lying 
beside a leaf of Vagus castaneafolia, Ung., confirms the opinion which I expressed in my 
* Flora Arctica’ (p. 106) of its identity with Castanea. They prove to us that the depo- 
sits of Atanekerdluk were formed at different seasons ; in spring when the chestnut is 
in flower, as well as in autumn. The discovery of the fruit of Menyanthes (Plate L. 
fig. 16) is a further confirmation of a species founded only on the leaves. 
Mr. Whymper’s collection contains on the whole 80 species of plants from North 
Greenland; 32 of these are new for this flora, and 20 are quite new. The Miocene 
plants of North Greenland have thereby reached the number of 137 species, and those 
of the Arctic Miocene flora 194. Of these 137 species from Greenland 46 species agree 
with those of the Miocene of Europe. Of these the following species have their 
Southern limits determined. 
